Many moons ago, we were just a family of 5. The Big Kahuna, me and three darling little girls. We went to the American Girl Store. We went out to tea. We went to musicals and symphonies and museums. Quiet, cultured events...those are the places to which we traveled.
Then...
came...
the BOYS.
Boys are not nearly as satisfied to shop or sit and listen to live music as girls are. Not at 6 and 8 years old. They have many moving parts, and they want to go places that do, too! Recently, that has made travel plans a lot more involved than the previous 15 years or so.
So what are trendy travelers to do when their snips and snails and puppy dog tails demand equal vacation time? Find places that move and shake as much as they do, that's what! It seems to me it is time to start planning a factory tour tour! Taking a tour of factories that offer amazing factory tours where the boys can watch stuff happen seems like a brilliant idea to me. Here are some of the factories I have been researching and would like to take them.
1. Mack Truck Factory: When the Lizard Boy was little and Spidey was a baby, we had a video called, "Lots and Lots of Trucks". Whenever we put that movie on, the boys would squeal and coming running and crawling to watch the likes of bulldozers, dump trucks and Bigfoot. But their favorite sequence was the part with all the semi trucks driving from one end of the country to the other. I think the only thing that would make this tour more fun for the boys is if they got to drive a Mack Truck themselves!
If you have little guys that love trucks, but you aren't headed to Pennsylvania anytime soon, consider investing in this gem to tie them over until you can get out East.
2. Ford Rouge Factory Tour: This tour of the Ford factory in Dearborn, MI, is more of an experience rather than a plain tour. This tour includes a movie on the history of Ford and the factory, a "multisensory theater experience", an Observation Deck tour, an Assembly Plant walking tour, and a Legacy Gallery. The Ford tour is an all day event! With lots and lots of cars and assembly lines. Everything moves! Of course, sparking interest in classic American cars could turn out to cost us a lot of money. Better to take the kids when they have a job!
3. American Whistle Corporation: The American Whistle Corporation is located in Columbus, OH. They are the ONLY metal whistle manufacturer in the US. The American Whistle Corporation makes products that are used daily by the American Red Cross, referees of all sports and teachers on yard duty everywhere! Not only do the folks at The American Whistle Corporation show you how they go from coiled brass to a finished whistle, they actually explain how a whistle works. The boys will like the combination of hands on production melded with robotic processes. Me? I want to go for one reason. To find out how in the WORLD they get the ball inside the whistle!
4. Louisville Slugger Factory Tour: Now, just to prove we are not all about the boys in our family, here is one for Junior! She is the sports enthusiast in the family. A bigtime hockey and baseball fan! The Louisville Slugger Factory is located, coincidentally, in Louisville, KY. It has a SIX story replica of The Babe's bat upside the outside of its factory. Inside, you will not only find the factory where the sluggers themselves are produced, but also a batting cage, a signature wall, museum, Lego recreations of baseball stadiums, and several galleries! An added bonus at the factory is the opportunity to buy a personalized bat. In any color, with any name or any team logo on it! But, if you don't have room in your Scootcase for a fullsized Louisville Slugger, every single person on the tour gets a mini one to take home. Woot!
5. Crayola Factory: The Crayola Factory in Easton, PA is currently closed for remodeling. They are promising an even more interactive and exciting tour! This tour is for Butterfly, who gets lots of time with Crayola products as a preschool art teacher...and who has also had an obsession with the crayon manufacturing process since she watched it come to life on "Reading Rainbow" when she was a child! I have long wanted to tour this factory, too. Ever since Mr Rogers took us there through Picture Picture when I was a little kid! The museum actually has their one billionth crayon that they made. And Mr Rogers was the one who poured it! So really, this tour is all about nostalgia! Besides the Rogers Crayon, the factory has the world's largest crayon on display. It is 15 feet long and 1500 pounds! Try breaking that one!
Oh my goodness! Crayons! Colors! and Mr Rogers! I am getting dizzy just thinking of the waxy goodness!!!
6. Lyon and Healy Harp Factory: This one is for Jef, our resident harpist...and for me who LOVES harp music!!! Jef actually owns a Lyon and Healy pedal harp. Lyon and Healy is the most famous American harp manufacturer and also has a huge reputation worldwide as well. Lyon and Healy is located in Chicago, IL and also has a factory tour to offer.
It's a good thing we can't fit one of THOSE in our Scootcase either! Unfortunately, they don't make a free mini version for tour attendees. But, oh that Heavenly Sound!
7. Hershey's "Factory Tour": And just for me...a trip to Hershey, PA for the chocolate company's "factory tour". This really isn't a tour at all, it is actually a ride. A short ride. That ends with FREE SAMPLES!!! I love that the ride is short because it gets you on to the more exciting parts of the factory like, Create Your Own Candy Bar Experience, Hershey's Chocolate Tasting Adventure, Hershey's Kisses Packaging (who needs packaging...I will just pop them right in my mouth!), Hershey's Dessert Creation Studio and the Hershey's Bake Shop!!! Maybe it is just that I have had a stressful week, but this factory tour..which isn't really a tour at all seems to be the BEST tour yet!
So, there you have it! A tour of Factory Tours! How fun to see how some of our favorite things are made and satisfy our curiosity and see things in a new light! I am inspired to go make something now, or eat chocolate - I can't decide which, so I
Gotta Mosey!
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